CANADIENS OFF-DAY – Scoring Chances, Hal Gill and the Defense

In the middle of back to back four game weeks, most of the healthy Canadiens did not go on the ice at their Brossard training facility Friday morning. Only goaltenders Peter Budaj and Carey Price plus forward Mathieu Darche put on skates.

….Jacques Martin at his morning news conference mentioned the number of scoring chances the Islanders were given in last night’s loss in New York. Martin has always said the team goal is to limit the opposition to twelve or fewer. The scoring chances at Long Island were 20-12 for the Islanders. Chances were even at 4 in the scoreless first. In the second period the Islanders had six of the first seven chances and took the 3-0 lead. In the third the Canadiens again failed to compete with eight of the first nine chances going to Islanders.

…..No Relief on Defence – Hal Gill has been discharged from hospital and was in the Brossard training facility dressing room this morning. He didn’t practice and is very doubtful for tomorrow night’s game. We’re told the reason for the hospitalization was not the reported virus, but a laceration on his leg that became infected. Gill should be available for Monday’s game against Boston.

……The Other Three – Jaroslav Spacek skated this morning without equipment. Andrei Markov is scrimmaging but still hasn’t been cleared for contact. According to Martin, don’t expect a return until at least early December. Chris Campoli was in full uniform but is still weeks away from any return from that hamstring tear.

…..The Rangers, tomorrow’s Bell Centre opponent, have won seven straight games for the first time since Oct. 3-17, 2009. Saturday. The streak includes home ice wins against San Jose, Anaheim, Montreal, Winnipeg and Carolina. The beat Ottawa and the Islanders on the road. They have not had an eight-game winning streak since Dec. 27, 1974-Jan. 11, 1975.